At 20:21:22 yesterday evening, the Cap Gemini and Schneider Electric trimaran crossed the Jules Verne Trophy start line between the Créac'h lighthouse on Ushant and the Lizard Point in Cornwall.

The French crew must therefore re-cross the same line before 04:57:46 on 13 April to beat the time set by Orange in 2002 (of 64 days, 8 hours, 37 minutes and 40 seconds).

With less than 15 knots of easterly wind on the start line, conditions remained modest, but in line with forecasters' data. They should cross the Bay of Biscay at reasonable speed, taking advantage of the southern edge of the anticyclone now centred over the English Channel. The current weather pattern promises no high average speeds, but a slow succession of anticyclones should drive the trimaran at a steady rate until she picks up the trade winds.

On board, her crew have sailed around the world in multihulls 18 times between them and eight of the eleven members were also part of last year's memorable Jules Verne Trophy attempt. All have a great deal of experience of sailing together and with Geronimo.

Geronimo's latest news is on her website at the address below.

Meanwhile, Bruno PEYRON'S new catamaran Orange 2 is back in the water after just 4 working days of inspections and minor modifications. The skipper is not concealing his eagerness to get underway on a Jules Verne attempt

The last technical preparations were to be completed this past weekend, the boat will sail on Monday for two days of testing before heading to La Trinité sur mer where it will be christened on Wednesday 11 February.

"Our objective was always to be ready, in stand-by mode, by the 15th of February" said Peyron. "We would have preferred to leave with Cheyenne and Geronimo, but they preferred to take this weather window and not wait for us. It is their choice, the future will tell us if they were right."

Tom Burton (AUS) and Alison Young (GBR) hit the right note in the Laser and Laser Radial at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as they took out the top honours and qualification spots to the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final.

It was double Australian gold in the Paralympic classes. Matt Bugg (AUS) came out on top in the 2.4mR whilst London 2012 Paralympic SKUD18 gold medallists Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch (AUS) were triumphant in the two person keelboat.

Lithuania's Juozas Bernotas came out on top in the Men's RS:X whilst Russia's Stefania Elfutina was triumphant in the Women's RS:X. Both sailors claim the first Abu Dhabi ISAF Sailing World Cup Final spots whilst Jock Calvert (AUS) and Joanna Sterling (AUS) picked up the Oceanic spots for the Emirati finale.

There was some fast paced action in the 49er and 49erFX Medal Races at ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne as Nathan Outteridge & Iain Jensen (AUS) and Maia & Ragna Agerup (NOR) claimed the honours and Abu Dhabi final spots.

A tight group of five young Papua New Guinean (PNG) Laser sailors are stepping up their 2015 Pacific Games competition program using this week's ISAF Sailing World Cup Melbourne. PNG is one of 33 countries represented at the important Oceanic event, the largest Olympic sailing regatta in the southern hemisphere.

Nicolai Sehested (DEN) and his TREFOR Match Racing Team clinched victory today at the Energa Sopot Match Race, Poland, the 10th stage and World Championship Event of the 2015 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT).

There was no stopping current, and five-time ISAF Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams (GBR), GAC Pindar today at the Energa Sopot Match Race as he swiftly dispatched his Quarter Final opponent Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) in three straight wins.

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) continues to address concerns and is taking steps to ensure the health and safety of all athletes who will be competing in the upcoming Aquece Rio, Olympic Test Event and the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.

Veteran Polish match racer and America's Cup helmsman Karol Jablonski skilfully played the gusty conditions today to lead the twelve strong field of teams at the end of Day 2 of Qualifying at the 2015 Energa Sopot Match Race.